September 27, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, United States; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) takes a handoff from quarterback Kyron Drones (1) against the Miami Hurricanes during the fourth quarter at Exhausting Rock Stadium. Mandatory credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Photographs
Virginia Tech will make its first-ever trip to California for an Atlantic Coast Conference soccer game when the Hokies travel to Stanford on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams will look to bounce back from a loss to an ACC power. The emotional rebound promises to be harder for one team than the other.
Virginia Tech (2-3, 0-1) seemed to have upset the then No. 1 seed. 7 Miami on the road last week before a last-second touchdown pass was overturned. That allowed the Hurricanes to hold on for a 38-34 victory and prompted Hokies coach Brent Pry to call ACC headquarters.
Although not satisfied with what he heard, Pry insisted Tuesday that this week was all about Stanford.
“We turned it around aggressively on Sunday night,” Pry said. “We addressed the issue with our players, with our employees, with our media, with our players, with our own wives… everyone. To play with the intensity we played with Friday night (September 27), we have to give it all to Stanford.
The Cardinal (2-2, 1-1) will make its ACC home debut, coming off a 26-24 win over Syracuse on Sept. 20 and a 40-14 loss to then-No. 1 Syracuse. 17 Clemson last Saturday in back-to-back conference road outings.
Stanford saw its starting quarterback, Ashton Daniels, leave the Clemson game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. Cardinal coach Troy Taylor announced Tuesday that Daniels was unsure if he would face the Hokies. Taylor also said Daniels, if healthy, will have to take better care of the soccer.
Daniels threw three interceptions as part of an inconsistent performance against the Tigers. He performed well on the ground, rushing 11 times for 87 yards.
“The thing about being a quarterback is you can play really well 95 percent of the time,” Taylor said, “but because you’re handling the ball every play, if 5 percent of those reps aren’t good, then you probably leave feeling like you did it. » I don’t play very well. »
According to Taylor, Justin Lamson would replace Daniels if the starter is unable to play against Virginia Tech.
The game will feature two of the statistically best backs in the ACC.
Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten totaled 141 yards in last week’s conference opener against Miami, while Stanford’s Micah Ford has the highest completions in the ACC among players who appeared in two conference games with 169 yards.
–Field level media
